We venture outside of France’s vineyards for just a moment, to discover the winemaking expertise of other countries and regions. Traditional wine producing countries, icons of the New World, cellaring wines, mature vintages and fine sweet wines… we take a closer look.

To create these rankings, we took into account the most expensive cuvée from each estate, converting its price to bottle (75cl) format, so as to facilitate comparisons.

Top 5 non-French wines at auction

In value, non-French wines represent only a minute share of wines traded at auction (2%). This is mostly due to the cellars for sale on our platform; most of these are collections in France, Belgium and Luxembourg and so the majority of wines are French. Nonetheless, the value of non-French wines is increasing every year: this is clearly reflected in our latest top 20. The highest-priced bottle was in fact a Riesling Scharzhofberger TBA 2010 from Egon Muller, reaching €7,296, and the three following lots were sold for between €2,250 (Screaming Eagle 2009) and €1,003 (Barolo DOCG Riserva Bruno Giacosa 1990). Thanks to these game changers, the average price per bottle in this list is €918! Once again, Egon Muller and Screaming Eagle take the lion’s share.

As with our French wine rankings, one thing that stands out is the search for mature wines. There are therefore collectable bottles such as Vega Sicilia’s Unico 1946 (€766), ready-to-drink jewels like a Tenuta San Guido 2001 Sassicaia (€255, +31%). These complex, full-bodied wines for aging undoubtedly justify the omnipresence of red wines in the ranking (17 out of 20). The remaining whites include a dry white (Riesling Abts Erde 2013 from Keller: €243) and two sweet wines: the Riesling TBA from Egon Muller and the Tokay Essenczia 1993 from Château Puzjos (2 50cl bottles at €608, so €456 for 75cl). This wine is extremely rare and difficult to find outside of its region of origin It is produced from botrytised grapes that are pressed under the wait of other grapes in the vat; the must is so high in sugar that it can ferment for years and the wine can age – and retain its freshness – for over a century.

This top 20 also highlights the predominance of countries with a long history of winemaking. Italy for instance is represented by 8 bottles. Bottes that showcase the peninsula’s iconic figures, including Angelo Gaja, who contributed to the reputation of Piemontese wines, traditional wines such as Amarone della Valpolicella, and super-Tuscans such as Tenuta San Guido. Spain is seeing growing success, and is represented by two prestigious DOCa: Rioja (Rioja DOCa Grand Reserva Especial Cosecha 1964 from Château Ygay: €280) and Priorat (Priorat DOCa L’Ermita 1995  from Alvaro Palacios: €261).

As for the New World, its excellence is confirmed by the two American wines on the podium: Screaming Eagle 2009 and The Antagonist 1998 from Sine Qua Non (€1,763). Australia is represented by Penfolds‘ mythic Grange 2001 (€462). Lebanon is embodied by its famous Château Musar 1970 (€255).

See our non-French wines currently for sale

See our other regional rankings:

Champagne

Bordeaux

Provence-Corsica

Loire

Beaujolais

Alsace

Top 20 non-French wines at auction